Ok, So the Check Engine light on my 1998 Toyota Corrola came on after I started using lower octane fuel 87, instead of normal 89 or 91, which I usually fill up with. And I went to the local auto zone and they connected their computer up to it, and It stated that my catalytic converters effecieny was lower than the computer recommended. I had them delete the reading, and went back to higher octane fuel. Why had this happend, are the two related? And no the light has yet to return.
2006-10-01 14:32:03 · 5 answers · asked by Jeff 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Higher octane fuel will reduce or stop detonation (pinging) which will reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx) from forming. The catalytic converter then splits the nitrogen from the oxygen an sends it on its way. Detonation also allows unburnt fuel and unused oxygen out of the engine. If the O2 sensor at the tail end of the catalytic converter detects this, it might think the cat is at fault.
2006-10-01 15:02:18 · answer #1 · answered by Lab 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shows how much people know about unleaded fuel and catalytic converters. You don't say how many miles you have on your car, and catalytic converters don't last forever. The most common cause of failure in converters is a misfire on one or more cylinders causing raw fuel to enter.
The brand or grade doesn't matter to the converter. The owner's manual tells what you are supposed to use in your engine, and if you are using a higher octane than recommended you are wasting money, because all modern no lead engines a optimized for that fuel.
2006-10-01 21:45:53 · answer #2 · answered by eferrell01 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not related to anything other than the rare metals in the cat are worn and at times the emission performance has fallen off. Any misfire will kill a cat in short order and as the engine uses more oil the cat has to clean up more hydrocarbon than intended. Thus a P0420 code, cat under efficiency code just as the engine warms up to operating temp. And that car should run just fine on 87 octane
2006-10-01 21:41:23 · answer #3 · answered by John Paul 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In your owners manual it should say that when changing gasoline's(weather it is octane or a different brand that your check eng. light may come on but will go out or reset itself. If you had a General Motors car the manual would tell ya that
2006-10-01 21:37:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
YES THE TWO ARE RELATED. IF YOU USE LOWER OC TANE YOU GET MORE CARBON BUILD UP IN THE CONVWERTOR AND EVENTUALLY IT GET PLUGGED UP. COST OF REPLACMENT AROUND $700. DID YOU SAVE THAT MUCH ON CHEAPER FUEL??
2006-10-01 21:38:41 · answer #5 · answered by roy40372 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋